proper term for assault rifles?

[Tony Williams]

The term "assault rifle" IS a proper term - for military-style SELECT-FIRE (aka full-auto, machineguns) weapons.

The term "assault weapon" is a derrogatory term made up by gun-grabbers in a profoundly failed attempt to categorize & demonize weapons that remind the ignorant of "assault rifles" but without the select-fire or full-auto capability.

Agreed. I would add that the military term 'assault rifle' tends to be popular rather than official. The two classic examples of the breed - the M16 and the AK 47 - are not officially called 'assault rifles' by their main users.

The gun which kicked this all off was of course the German Stg 44, the term 'Sturmgewehr' being translated as 'assault rifle'. It was unofficially adopted as a handy shorthand to describe the new breed of selective-fire rifles firing cartridges much less powerful than the classic .30 calibre full-power rifles, but much more powerful than pistols.

Ironically, of the very few military rifles officially designated 'assault rifles' (or equivalent) since WW2, one is a Swiss Sturmgewehr in full-power 7.5x55 calibre - and thereby doesn't qualify by the normal definition...

Tony Williams: Military gun and ammunition website and discussion forum

 

[marklbucla]

Sport Utility Rifle.

Assault Rifle is a term with a very bad connotation now. I refuse to call my AR an Assault Rifle.

 

[444]

This has been discussed countless times before, but..........

I enjoy using the correct terms for things if I know the correct term. I personally can't understand why anyone who knew better would use the wrong term if they knew better.

The correct definition of an assult rifle has been given several times in this thread already. Note that an assult rifle and a battle rifle are NOT the same thing. An FN-FAL, or an HK G3, or an M14 are not assult rifles: they don't fire an intermediate sized cartridge. They are battle rifles. An SKS is not an assult rifle by the original definition either. A true assult rifle has to have a detachable magazine and be capable of select fire (not just full auto, but select fire). An M1 is a battle rifle: the definition of a battle rifle does not include having a detachable magazine.

I personally call them rifles the vast majority of the time. If I need to get more specific, I will call them by their proper name (AR15, AK or whatever) or I will put them in the class of semi-auto rifle.

 

[thatguy]

335sigfan- I don't like to put "military style" in there because this is a favorite scary phrase the antis use. Military style mean full-auto to the uninformed who unfortunately elect idiots who then ban military style rifles.

There is no difference between a Marlin 60 and an AR15. They are semi-auto rifles. To make any distinction at all helps the gun banners.

 

[dimmak]

"Tactical"

As long as you use the word "tactical" in your description, it really shouldn't matter. I think we all realize that if something is "tactical" then it will make the user invisible, bullet proof, more accurate, shoot faster, etc....

 

[355sigfan]

335sigfan- I don't like to put "military style" in there because this is a favorite scary phrase the antis use. Military style mean full-auto to the uninformed who unfortunately elect idiots who then ban military style rifles.

There is no difference between a Marlin 60 and an AR15. They are semi-auto rifles. To make any distinction at all helps the gun banners.

I understand where your comming from. But I like the fact their military style guns and I am not ashamed of it. If an anti said those guns were made for killing people I would say so whats your point.
Pat

 

[GTSteve03]

"Homeland Defense Rifle"

+1

Or "Homeland Security Rifle."

Although I'm sure the "real" Department of Homeland Security doesn't really like the thought of a large portion of the citizenry running around with those "assault weapons."

 

[half elf]

I use the term "Sport Utility Rifle" when describing my collection.

 

[k_semler]

Just what is the correct way to generalize the ar-15, ak-47, sks type rifle. While I'm big into gun rights hearing someone call them assault rifles just doesn't bother me. I mean a bolt action is a bolt action, a pump is a pump, so what are they? Not trying to make anyone mad this early in the morning I'm just uninformed on the matter and need educating. thanks

Assault rifle: Any military carbine that discharges a medium caliber cartrage capable of select fire, or automatic fire. Semi-automatic weapons ARE NOT assault rifles.

Assault Weapon: Any semi-automatic firearm the anti-gunners deem to be "scary", (not P.C. in apperance).

 

[Zen21Tao]

I understand where your comming from. But I like the fact their military style guns and I am not ashamed of it. If an anti said those guns were made for killing people I would say so whats your point.
Pat

Did you like not being able to have a telescoping stock or foward grip under the Clinton AWB? The whole reason the ban was allowed to pass in the first place was based on convincing average citizens it was targeting a specific especially dangerous type of weapon not fit for civilian use. I know you like the idea of having a weapon that instills fear in the hearts of mear mortals but its that same misguided fear that is used to ban us from having them.

 

[k_semler]

Agreed. I would add that the military term 'assault rifle' tends to be popular rather than official. The two classic examples of the breed - the M16 and the AK 47 - are not officially called 'assault rifles' by their main users.

The gun which kicked this all off was of course the German Stg 44, the term 'Sturmgewehr' being translated as 'assault rifle'. It was unofficially adopted as a handy shorthand to describe the new breed of selective-fire rifles firing cartridges much less powerful than the classic .30 calibre full-power rifles, but much more powerful than pistols.

Ironically, of the very few military rifles officially designated 'assault rifles' (or equivalent) since WW2, one is a Swiss Sturmgewehr in full-power 7.5x55 calibre - and thereby doesn't qualify by the normal definition...

Tony Williams: Military gun and ammunition website and discussion forum

Strum = Streamed, Sturm= Storm, Angriff = Assault, Gewehr = Weapon. strumgewehr= Streamed weapon, sturmgewehr = Storm weapon angriffgewehr= Assault Weapon. If you want to go with German, it would be appropriate to call select-fire weapons "Weapons designed with the purpose of raids or "storm operations" in mind."

 

[Tony Williams]

Strum = Streamed, Sturm= Storm, Angriff = Assault, Gewehr = Weapon. strumgewehr= Streamed weapon, sturmgewehr = Storm weapon angriffgewehr= Assault Weapon. If you want to go with German, it would be appropriate to call select-fire weapons "Weapons designed with the purpose of raids or "storm operations" in mind."

True, but 'storm rifle' is ambiguous - it might just mean a rifle for use in bad weather 'Assault rifle' is I think a better translation of 'Sturmgewehr' as it conveys the sense more accurately.

Tony Williams: Military gun and ammunition website and discussion forum

 

[355sigfan]

Did you like not being able to have a telescoping stock or foward grip under the Clinton AWB? The whole reason the ban was allowed to pass in the first place was based on convincing average citizens it was targeting a specific especially dangerous type of weapon not fit for civilian use. I know you like the idea of having a weapon that instills fear in the hearts of mear mortals but its that same misguided fear that is used to ban us from having them.

Actually the forward grip applied to pistols not rifles. With rifles you could have a pistol grip or a flash hider not both. At least on domestic rifles. But the problem is not nomenclature but rather educating the public. Also I had what I wanted during the ban with preban and leo stuff.
Pat